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Effects of Amlodipine on 24‐Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Profiles, Electrocardiographic Monitoring, and Left Ventricular Mass and Function in Black Patients with Very Severe Hypertension
Author(s) -
Skoularigis John,
Strugo Victor,
Weinberg John,
Chopamba Agonia,
Chautsane Zandile,
Lee Andrew,
Reddy Karen,
Sareli Pinhas
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
the journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.92
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1552-4604
pISSN - 0091-2700
DOI - 10.1002/j.1552-4604.1995.tb04025.x
Subject(s) - amlodipine , medicine , ambulatory blood pressure , cardiology , blood pressure , ambulatory , ambulatory ecg , ventricular function
In a 3‐month, open‐label study, 54 consecutive black patients with very severe hypertension were treated with amlodipine. Very severe hypertension was defined as an average sitting diastolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 115 mmHg and ≤ 140 mmHg as a mean of 10 readings over a 30‐minute period using an automatic BP measuring device and a mean 24‐hour diastolic ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) ≥ 110 mmHg and ≤ 140 mmHg). Serial changes in 24‐hour ABP and electrocardiographic monitoring, left ventricular (LV) mass index, and LV systolic function were evaluated. Mean 24‐hour ABP was reduced from 181 ± 14/119 ±6 to 140 ± 15/92 ±9 mmHg at 3 months (P < 0.0001). Target BP (mean 24‐hour diastolic ABP <90 mmHg) was achieved in 35% of the patients. The reduction in BP was sustained for 24 hours after drug administration. Simultaneous BP measurements using the automatic BP measuring device were significantly different from the ABP measurements before and after treatment, suggesting a marked “white coat” pressor effect. At baseline, frequent or complex ventricular arrhythmias (>30 ventricular extrasystoles per hour, ventricular couplets) were present in 2 (4%) patients, with no significant change after treatment. Left ventricular mass index regressed from 140 ± 50 to 111 ± 30 g/m 2 at 3 months (P < 0.03); LV performance was not adversely affected. Adverse effects were few and tended to disappear during the treatment period. All of the clinical laboratory parameters tested remained unchanged. In this group of patients, treatment with amlodipine showed a marked and sustained antihypertensive action as demonstrated by 24‐hour ABP monitoring, and was well tolerated and associated with LV mass regression without adverse effect on systolic cardiac function. Further, a low rate of complex ventricular arrhythmias was documented.